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Dave Chappelle is opening up about the controversy surrounding his latest Netflix special The Closer, saying that he’s not “bending to anyone’s demands.”
In a new stand-up clip posted to his Instagram, the 48-year-old comedian said he’s willing to meet with transgender employees at Netflix and that he did not refuse to speak with them.
“That is not true—if they had invited me I would have accepted it, although I am confused about what we would be speaking about,” Chappelle says in the new clip, reiterating statements made earlier by his team to TMZ. “I said what I said, and boy, I heard what you said. My God, how could I not? You said you want a safe working environment at Netflix. It seems like I’m the only one who can’t go to the office anymore.”
Chappelle continued, claiming the situation had to do with “corporate interests” and that the controversy is being framed as “me versus that community” by the media.
“Do not blame the LGBTQ community for any of this,” Dave said in the video. “It’s about corporate interests, and what I can say, and what I cannot say. For the record, and I need you to know this, everyone I know from that community has been loving and supportive, so I don’t know what this nonsense is about.”
Chappelle—who said he’s been disinvited from film festivals regarding the special— also shared that he has “conditions” if those in the community wish to meet with him about the special, including that they can’t come if they haven’t watched The Closer in its entirety.
It was previously reported by the New York Post and other publications that TV personality Ashlee Marie Preston said she invited the comedian to join protesters at Netflix’s headquarters and that he “chose not to show up”—comments that Chappelle and his camp are now calling false.
The walkout last Wednesday was staged by trans employees and allies, following the release of the special that GLAAD and other civil rights organizations have slammed. Click here for a rundown of why many are calling the special—which calls out “cancel culture” and sees Chappelle declaring himself “team TERF”— transphobic.
